Coming into the room, the premier asked how Shamanov felt and noted: “It is good that at least you are smiling.”

Specialists are highly skilled here, and so everything will be good, Putin assured. “The spirits are high, and it is the main thing,” he added.

Shamanov thanked the premier for the visit and said: “We will be needed yet.”

The premier noted he would not speak at the time about what happened, adding that the main thing was how Shamanov felt.

Speaking to the doctors and hospital executives, Putin noted that serious work was to be done for the general to regain his health. The doctors told the prime minister that Shamanov would undergo an operation next week.

Fifty-three-year-old Shamanov got into the accident in the Tula Region on Saturday morning. The BMW car in which he was collided with a MAZ vehicle. Shamanov was taken to the Burdenko hospital at 19:02 Moscow time. He has an arm trauma, a shin fracture and brain concussion.